Detection Method Using Detecting Device

Abstract

Provided is a detection method employing a detection instrument having a plurality of wells at a surface thereof, the method including depositing a detection object, preferably in coexistence with a specific holding substance, onto the inner walls of the wells of the detection instrument; bringing a reaction solution into contact with the inner walls of the wells of the detection instrument on which the detection object has been deposited, the reaction solution containing a substance reactive with the detection object; and detecting a signal generated through this contact, to thereby evaluate the detection object. In this method, a liquid phase reaction can be efficiently performed in the detection instrument for carrying out a biological reaction (e.g., a microarray) so that samples contained in the wells are not mixed with one another, and that air bubbles are prevented from being generated in the wells.

1 . A detection method employing a detection instrument having a plurality of wells at a surface thereof, the method comprising depositing a detection object onto the inner walls of the wells of the detection instrument; bringing a reaction solution into contact with the inner walls of the wells of the detection instrument on which the detection object has been deposited, the reaction solution containing a substance reactive with the detection object; and detecting a signal generated through this contact, to thereby evaluate the detection object.  
     
     
         2 . A detection method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection object deposited on the inner walls of a plurality of the wells at the surface of the detection instrument is caused to coexist with (1) a substance which, when being itself or in the form of a mixture with a solvent, undergoes change in phase from solid to liquid at about 10 to about 90° C., and/or (2) a substance which is gradually dissolved in a solvent at room temperature; and the substance (1) and/or the substance (2) is dissolved in the reaction solution during detection.  
     
     
         3 . A detection method according to  claim 2 , wherein the substance (1); i.e., a substance which, when being itself or in the form of a mixture with a solvent, undergoes change in phase from solid to liquid at about 10 to about 90° C., is one or more species selected from the group consisting of gelatin, agar, DPPC (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), and poly(ε-caprolactone)  
     
     
         4 . A detection method according to  claim 2 , wherein the substance (1); i.e., a substance which, when being itself or in the form of a mixture with a solvent, undergoes change in phase from solid to liquid at about 10 to about 90° C., is gelatin.  
     
     
         5 . A detection method according to  claim 2 , wherein the substance (2); i.e., a substance which is gradually dissolved in a solvent at room temperature, is one or more species selected from the group consisting of dextran, xylitol, polyethylene glycol, maltose, and trehalose.  
     
     
         6 . A detection method according to  claim 2 , wherein the substance (2); i.e., a substance which is gradually dissolved in a solvent at room temperature, is trehalose.  
     
     
         7 . A detection method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reaction solution is brought into contact with the inner walls of the wells provided at the surface of the detection instrument by applying the reaction solution onto the side surfaces of openings of the wells of the detection instrument.  
     
     
         8 . A detection method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection object is a nucleic acid.  
     
     
         9 . A detection method according to  claim 8 , wherein the reaction solution is a reaction solution which enables the Invader assay reaction to be performed on the nucleic acid.  
     
     
         10 . A detection method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wells of the detection instrument are provided at a density of 1 to 40,000 wells/cm 2 .  
     
     
         11 . A detection method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection instrument is in the form of a plate.  
     
     
         12 . A detection kit employed for carrying out a detection method as recited in  claim 1 , the kit comprising the following elements A, B, and C: 
 A. (1) a substance which, when being itself or in the form of a mixture with a solvent, undergoes change in phase from solid to liquid at about 10 to about 90° C., and/or (2) a substance which is gradually dissolved in a solvent at room temperature;    B. a reaction solution or a solute of the solution; and    C. a detection instrument having a plurality of wells.    
     
     
         13 . A detection kit according to  claim 12 , wherein the detection object is a nucleic acid, and the reaction solution is a reaction solution which enables the Invader assay reaction to be performed on the nucleic acid.